Philadelphia Flyers Should Turn To 2010 Run For Some Playoff Confidence

By Steven Smith

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It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers have had their fair share of struggles this season. If you were to ask anyone who knows a thing or two about hockey if they thought the orange and black stood a chance to win the Stanley Cup this season, they’d probably tell you no, and rightfully so.

The numbers aren’t too convincing; they’ve made plenty of mistakes, and inconsistency has been an issue. However, to just jump ship and count them out is absurd. Did you all forget what happened in 2010? That year, the Flyers got into the playoffs, but in the last way possible — literally. They got a big save on the last shot of a shootout in the last game of the season. But what came next was everything but expected.

In the first round, they eliminated the No. 2-seeded New Jersey Devils in five games. They came back from three games down to the Boston Bruinsand won four straight to win the series. They manhandled the Montreal Canadiens in five games, and pushed the the Chicago Blackhawks to their limits in six games. Let’s face it, they weren’t even supposed to make it into the playoffs.

If anything, this year’s team is much more established than the 2010 squad. In 2010, the Flyers had only three guys with 20 or more goals. This year, they have seven. In 2010, the Flyers had no established goalie and were switching between three different guys. Their combined GAA was 2.62, and their combined save percentage was .907. This season, they’ve found a No. 1 goalie in Steve Mason, and he alone has a better GAA (2.51) and save percentage (.917).

To say that the Flyers are out of cup contention before the playoffs even start is foolish. If any team can prove that anything can happen, it’s that 2009-10 Flyers team.